- The moves1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6
- Chosen byBlack
- ECOD10–D19
The Slav Defense comes after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6. Black declines the Queen's Gambit, but in a different way from 2…e6: the pawn on c6 protects d5 without shutting in the bishop on c8. Later, Black can also take on c4 and threaten to keep the pawn with b5.
The defense was analyzed as early as 1590, but it was only in the 1920s that it was explored properly, by masters of Slavic origin such as Semyon Alapin, Alexander Alekhine, Efim Bogoljubov and Milan Vidmar. It was tested thoroughly in the world championship matches between Alekhine and Euwe in 1935 and 1937, and eleven of the first thirteen world champions have played it. In the 2006 world championship match, Vladimir Kramnik chose the Slav in six of his eight games with Black.
The main line, move by move
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O O-O
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The ideas
White wants to
- Take the pawn back on c4 and build a center with e3 or e4.
- Stop Black from keeping the pawn with b5, often with a4.
- Exploit the fact that Black's queenside gets weaker once the bishop has left c8, for example with a queen on b3 against b7.
Black wants to
- Hold d5 without shutting in the bishop on c8.
- Develop the bishop to f5 or g4 before e6.
- Later free the game with c5 or e5, even though c5 costs a tempo.
Important variations
Exchange Variation: 3.cxd5
White trades at once and gets a symmetrical position where White's only advantage is having the next move. Garry Kasparov and Raymond Keene wrote that, for Black, it takes the fun out of the Slav. The positions easily become drawish, and Black has few winning chances unless White plays too ambitiously. The rooks are often traded on the open c-file.
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bf5
Chebanenko Variation: 4…a6
A modern way to play that caught on in the 1990s. Black prepares b5 without shutting in the bishop with e6 and without giving up the center with dxc4.
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. e3 b5 6. b3 Bg4 7. Be2 e6
A common mistake: 3…Bf5?
The bishop wants out, but it comes too soon. After 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Qb3 the queen attacks b7, which the bishop on c8 would have protected, and d5 at the same time. Black has to play 5…Bc8 to avoid losing the pawn on b7, and then the bishop is back where it started. That is why Black plays 3…Nf6 first.
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Bf5 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Qb3 Bc8
How it goes in real games
How the games ended once the position had come up on the board, in blitz, rapid and classical games. White wins, draws and Black wins, as a percentage of the games.
| Position | Level | Games | White wins | Draw | Black wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slav Defense 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 | Club players | 37,678,622 | 51% | 6% | 44% |
| Beginners | 13,946,150 | 51% | 4% | 45% | |
| Slav Defense, main line 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O O-O | Club players | 142,707 | 45% | 8% | 47% |
| Beginners | 1,364 | 53% | 4% | 43% | |
| Exchange Variation: 3.cxd5 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bf5 | Club players | 170,973 | 50% | 8% | 42% |
| Beginners | 17,442 | 54% | 4% | 42% | |
| Chebanenko Variation: 4…a6 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. e3 b5 6. b3 Bg4 7. Be2 e6 | Club players | 8,522 | 48% | 9% | 42% |
| Beginners | 101 | too few games for percentages | |||
The most common continuations after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6
Club players, share of the games in the position.
- 3.Nc3 54% (20,434,840 games)
- 3.Nf3 21% (7,743,179 games)
- 3.cxd5 12% (4,651,387 games)
- 3.e3 8% (3,083,140 games)
- 3.c5 1% (477,546 games)
Source: games on Lichess, fetched October 28, 2026. Club players means games where the players average 1600 or more, beginners games where they average 1000–1599.
Is this opening for you?
The Slav suits players who want a solid position against 1.d4 without becoming passive. The pawn structure is hard to break down, and unlike many other defenses to the Queen's Gambit, the bishop on c8 gets into play.
The main lines hold a fair amount of theory, but the basic ideas are few: hold d5, get the bishop out, and free the game with c5 or e5 when the time is right.
Practice the main line
Choose a color and one of the house players. Your opponent follows the main line, and you try to find your moves. If you play something else, you'll see the main line's move, but the game goes on. When the main line ends, you play freely.
Rather play freely? Choose an opponent · Play right away
The main line with all the comments as text
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 The Slav. The pawn protects d5, and the bishop on c8 still has a clear road. 3. Nf3 White develops and keeps an eye on e5. 3… Nf6 The most common move. An early 3…Bf5 is a mistake: see below. 4. Nc3 The main line. Now Black can take on c4. 4… dxc4 Black takes the pawn. With b5, Black could try to keep it, so White has to act. 5. a4 White stops b5 and prepares e4 and Bxc4. 5… Bf5 The bishop comes out and stops e4. This is considered the main line of the Slav, the Czech Variation. 6. e3 The quiet choice, called the Dutch Variation. 6… e6 Now that the bishop is out, Black can play e6 without shutting it in. 7. Bxc4 White takes the pawn back. 7… Bb4 The bishop pins the knight on c3 and puts pressure on e4. 8. O-O O-O Both kings are safe. A fairly quiet middlegame lies ahead.
More openings
Queen's Gambit
2.c4 challenges d5. The classical d4 opening, with a Swedish variation among its lines.
Caro-Kann Defense
1…c6 and 2…d5. As stable as the French, but the bishop on c8 gets out.
Nimzo-Indian Defense
3…Bb4: pin the knight, stop e4, and be ready to trade the bishop for doubled pawns.
London System
A system rather than an opening: the same good setup against almost anything Black does.
Every move on this page has been checked against the rules of chess.
Updated November 6, 2026
2… c6
The Slav. The pawn protects d5, and the bishop on c8 still has a clear road.